JP2009230508A - Print image check system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system that enables an advance check of the print image of a submitted document prior to the production of proofs of preliminary platemaking information. <P>SOLUTION: Print format information (XML data) is generated in response to an input request, and then converted from XML to PDF in an electronic proofing server to generate a PDF file with an access password added, which is stored as a proofreading file in a document database. The author of the document accesses a document management server and enters the arbitrary password to browse, and returns a proofread file (XML data) with approval information added to the document management server, so that it is processed and printed out in a printing system. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print image confirmation system that is performed at the time of submission of print data to be ordered from a printing company and can electronically confirm an actual print image before printing.

  Conventionally, the orderer confirms the print image of the submitted manuscript by creating a manuscript data based on the manuscript submitted at the printing company of the contractor and printing out the manuscript data as a paper medium. It was a manuscript. The proofreading method for exchanging the printed out proofreading confirmation document between the orderer and the contractor by FAX using a mail or a telephone line is generally used. In recent years, communication environments represented by the Internet have been improved, and networking of computers is progressing in offices. For this reason, the created print data is submitted by a computer owned by an individual or a corporation via a communication line network such as the Internet or an internal communication line.

  A number of printing systems have been proposed in which print data submitted in this way is printed by a printing company. For example, when placing a print order via the Internet, a print format setting that reflects the initial settings specified from user information for a system that provides a mechanism that allows the user to set the print order with less burden on the user There has been disclosed a printing system that generates display data for a screen and enables a print orderer to confirm a print appearance at the time of ordering (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  Also, a print order receiving method, a print order receiving server, and a print order receiving system are disclosed as print order receiving techniques for quickly confirming and calibrating a print image image and ensuring the identity between the print image image and the output image (for example, patents). Reference 2).

  In addition, a print display device capable of displaying a layout at the time of bookbinding before printing is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 3).

  In addition, as a network submission and proofreading method, a print ordering system that exchanges print data in a page description language that includes code information, and outputs and proofreads the print data on the output device of the manuscript creator Is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 4).

  Furthermore, a printer device having a function of confirming a print image before printing print data instructed to be printed is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 5).

JP 2005-301748 A JP 2002-183528 A JP-A-9-185606 JP 2000-155666 A JP-A-6-290005

  However, the printing systems described in Patent Documents 1, 2, and 3 do not include means for confirming whether an image image created by a computer and a printed material actually printed are accurately reproduced. For this reason, for example, conversion character garbled characters such as RIP garbled characters occur due to the difference between the data format of the image development program of the printing machine to be printed and the data format of the print data created by the computer, or the font specified on the computer. And the actual printed font may be different. There are other problems such as a change in the line feed position, a broken layout, a problem in the output of the image pasted on the document, and a significant change from the original image.

  For this reason, conventionally, it has been necessary to perform confirmation on the basis of a paper medium manuscript submitted. This confirmation was confirmed visually by the original document creator, and if there was a correction, it was time consuming because the person in charge of the order received the correction instruction from the original document creator. .

  In order to solve this problem, for example, there is a method of proofreading by the technique disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 4. In this method, an image development program (RIP) of an output machine possessed by a manuscript creator and an output possessed by a printing company are provided. Due to the difference from the image development program (RIP) of the machine, there is no guarantee that the output image confirmed by the document creator and the image finally printed by the printing company are the same in detail. For this reason, a trouble has occurred due to a mismatch between the output image confirmed by the document creator and the output image finally printed by the printing company.

  In order to solve this problem, it is sufficient that the document creator and the printing company use the same image development program. However, the cost of the document creator is large, which is not practical.

  Another possible method is to accept only bitmap images that can be printed reliably by restricting the data format of the manuscript submitted by the printing company. This is not desirable because it forces the work of converting to a bitmap file.

  As another method, a printing company can read the printing result with a scanner and send it back to the document creator.However, the apparatus becomes large-scale, and due to paper stains, reading element stains, etc., Since an element that the reading state changes is added, it is not sufficient as an accurate proof print, and the amount of data becomes enormous, which is not realistic.

  The method for confirming a printed image disclosed in Patent Document 5 is a useful technique. However, this technology assumes operation in an ultra-high-speed LAN environment capable of transmitting and receiving large-capacity files with a data amount ranging from several MB to several GB, and a conversion or result display method has been proposed. Therefore, it was unsuitable as a technology applied to the entire network operation business.

  Further, in this technique, since the file proofread by the manuscript creator is not associated with the approval evidence, the approval evidence for the proofreading is insufficient, which may cause a trouble later. Further, although the proofreading work takes a lot of time and cost for the printing company, the proofreading manuscript is delivered by digital data that facilitates the delivery of information. For this reason, it is impossible to prevent the risk of loss of business opportunity that a proofreading document sent to a document creator is diverted and used as an ordering document to another printing company for confirmation of proofreading work.

  In order to solve the above-described problems caused by the conventional technology, the orderer can surely confirm before printing that the print image such as the character font, the character size, and the layout is the same as the printed matter after printing. The purpose is to provide a system.

  The present invention is a print image confirmation system comprising a document input terminal and a server device communicably connected to the document input terminal via a network and creating a print image document in response to a request from the document input terminal. The server device calculates a print result from format data composed of an identifier for distinguishing layout attributes and character data transmitted from the document input terminal, and accurately prints print image data generated by the calculation. Print format creation means for converting into a format file that can be represented, and a database that manages the management file in association with the format data in association with the management number for identification when the format file is transmitted to the document input terminal The document management means having the format file, and the document input terminal via the network A print image confirmation system comprising: a disclosure unit that allows access by inputting the identification management number and the password; and a print registration unit that transmits the format data to a printing process according to a print instruction from the document input terminal. .

  The document input terminal according to the present invention is a print image confirmation system in which the identification management number and password can be set when the format data is created.

  The document input terminal of the present invention browses a print image of the format file by inputting the identification management number and the password, corrects the document data according to the browse result of the print image, A print image confirmation system that transmits to the server device via the network.

  The format data according to the present invention is a print image confirmation system characterized in that the format data is XML format data.

  The format file of the present invention is a print image confirmation system characterized in that it is a PDF format file.

  In the print information data of the present invention, the management number and the identification password that are individually assigned to each manuscript creator are assigned in advance, and browsing acts other than the manuscript creator are performed when browsing through the network. It is a print image confirmation system that prevents and ensures proofreading confirmation.

  According to the implementation of the present invention, the administrative procedures such as manuscript preparation associated with manuscript submission can be abolished, and the print image can be confirmed before submission, so it is possible to submit a final manuscript and proof paper Since printing is no longer necessary, it is possible to abolish typesetting, proofreading and galley schools in the editing process. As a result, administrative procedures such as manuscript arrangement and manuscript acceptance period can be omitted, composition editing and proofreading work can be made more efficient, and the minimum number of days required for publication on printed matter has been shortened.

  In addition, by performing calibration through the network, it was possible to reduce costs such as mailing costs.

  In addition, with the submission of finalized manuscripts, it has become possible to simplify intermediate work at the manuscript manuscript store and reduce the burden on manuscript creators.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the best mode for carrying out the invention described below, and includes various other embodiments within the scope of the technical idea described in the scope of claims. .

  A schematic configuration example of a network system to which the print image confirmation system of the present invention can be applied will be described. FIG. 1 is an image diagram of the entire print image confirmation system of the present invention. There is a document management server 3 connected to the document input terminal PC 1 and the network 2, and this document management server 3 is connected to the printing system 4.

  The manuscript input terminal PC1 performs input and editing operations based on the manuscript from the orderer, and creates manuscript data as XML data. The XML data created by the document input terminal PC 1 is sent to the document management server 3 via the network 2.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the document management server 3. The document management server 3 has a document management unit 6, a print format management unit 9, a communication unit 5, and a document database 11 as a basic configuration. The manuscript management means 6 mainly receives XML data sent from the manuscript input terminal PC1, transfers the XML data to the print format management means 9, and the proof electronic file created by the print style creation means (typesetting engine 10). Received and registered in the document database 11 and instructed to print to the printing system 4. The print style management means creates a proof of XML data with electronic data and creates a PDF file with a browsing password.

  The orderer accesses the electronic file stored in the document database 11 in the document management server 3 at the document input terminal PC1. The screen of the document input terminal PC1 displays a print image such as the same character font, character size, and layout as the printed material after printing, so that the print appearance can be confirmed. If there is a data error or design correction in the print image, it is corrected in the manuscript input terminal PC1.

  When the completion confirmation is obtained for the print image, a print instruction is issued from the document management server 3 to the print system 4, and the process proceeds to the print process to perform printing.

  EXAMPLES Next, although an Example demonstrates this invention in detail, this invention is not limited to these examples.

  The case where the print image confirmation system of the present invention is applied to manuscript input of an official article published in the official gazette will be described. The flow relating to the processing of the manuscript data is shown in FIG. 3, but will be described with reference to FIG. 4 showing the processing routine of the manuscript creator and FIG. 5 showing the processing routine of the manuscript management server as necessary. . The submission of the manuscript from the orderer is performed through the agency. Based on the manuscript received from the orderer, the agency stores, as shown in FIG. 4, input (S401) and editing work at the manuscript input terminal PC1, and creates XML data for editing as page description language data. (S301, S402). The manuscript input terminal PC1 is a PC terminal that inputs manuscripts from an orderer. This manuscript input terminal PC1 is usually installed at a dealer, but there is no problem even if it is an orderer's PC as long as it can access the network.

  The document input terminal PC1 logs into the document management server 3 in the printing company using the network. After the system login, XML data for editing is transmitted to the document management server 3 (S302, S403).

  As shown in FIG. 5, when receiving the editing XML data (S502), the document receiving unit 7 in the document management server 3 automatically sends the editing XML to the electronic school server 12 in the print format management unit 9. Data is sent. The transmitted editing XML data is analyzed by the typesetting engine 10 in the print format management means 9 and edited in the same layout as the paper to create a PDF for proof checking. The created PDF for calibration confirmation is stored in the document database 11 after setting an access password (S303, S503). This password is notified to the document input terminal PC1 input at the same time as the setting.

  In the agency, using the access password notified from the manuscript management server 3, the manuscript input terminal PC1 can browse the PDF for calibration confirmation stored in the manuscript database 11. In order to confirm the appearance of the character font, character size, layout, etc. with the PDF for confirmation of proofreading, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the school is returned to the customer (S304, S404).

  If correction is necessary, the original XML data is corrected and edited at the document input terminal PC1 of the agency. By sending the corrected and edited XML data to the document management server 3 again, a PDF for calibration confirmation is created again. If there are corrections, repeat this process.

  If there is no correction, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the manuscript input server PC1 instructs the manuscript management server 3 to edit data to which the submission information such as school completion / responsibility / school is given. XML data is transmitted (S306, S406).

  The document management server 3 registers the XML data with the completion information received from the document input terminal PC1 in the printing system (S307, S506). As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the registered XML data is converted into text including actual typesetting information by the typesetting engine, and a document PDF is output (S308, S507). In the print editing work, the text with typesetting information is registered in the typesetting editor on the article posting date and printed (S309, S508).

1 is a configuration diagram showing an overall outline of a print image confirmation system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the main function structures of the manuscript management server which concerns on the print image confirmation system of this invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow regarding processing of document data. It is a figure which shows the process routine of a manuscript creator. It is a figure which shows the process routine of an original document management server.

Explanation of symbols

1 Document input terminal PC
2 network 3 document management server 4 printing system 5 communication means 6 document management means 7 document reception means 8 document submission means 9 print appearance management means 10 typesetting engine 11 document database 12 electronic school server

Claims (5)

A print image confirmation system comprising a document input terminal and a server device that is communicably connected to the document input terminal via a network and creates a print image document in response to a request from the document input terminal.
The server device calculates a print result from format data composed of an identifier for distinguishing layout attributes and character data transmitted from the document input terminal, and accurately prints print image data generated by the calculation. A print format creation means for converting to a notable format file;
An original management means having a database that associates an identification management number with a password and manages them in association with the format data when transmitting the format file to the document input terminal;
Publishing means for allowing the document input terminal to access the document input terminal by inputting the identification management number and the password via the network;
A print image confirmation system comprising print registration means for transmitting the format data to a printing process in accordance with a print instruction from the document input terminal.   The print image confirmation system according to claim 1, wherein the document input terminal can set the identification management number and password when the format data is created.   The manuscript input terminal browses the print image by inputting the management file for identification and the password, modifies the manuscript data according to the browse result of the print image, and transmits the format file via the network. The print image confirmation system according to claim 1, wherein the print image confirmation system transmits the image to the server device.   The print image confirmation system according to claim 1, wherein the format data is XML format data.   5. The print image confirmation system according to claim 1, wherein the format file is a PDF format file.

Images